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The electronic structure of GaN(1-100) surfaces is investigated in-situ by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS). Occupied surface states 3.1 eV below the Fermi energy are observed by PES, accompanied by surface optical transitions found in RAS around 3.3 eV, i.e., below the bulk band gap. These results indicate that the GaN(1-100) surface band gap is smaller than the bulk one due to the existence of intra-gap states, in agreement with density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, the experiments demonstrate that RAS can be applied for optical surface studies of anisotropic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors demonstrate the ability of multiwall carbon nanotubes to generate photocurrents in the near ultraviolet and visible spectral ranges using electrochemical photocurrent measurements. The photogenerated current depends on the excitation wavelength similar to that for single wall carbon nanotubes. Its intensity and modulation can be related to the carbon nanotubes morphology. The maximum photon-to-current conversion efficiency is approximately 7%, about 50 times higher than that reported for single wall carbon nanotubes. This result is of particular relevance for photovoltaic nanodevices and solar energy conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]